Zee Entertainment has acquired UAEs Hindi-language radio station Hum 106.2 FM. This is Zees first foray into the radio business across all markets. With the acquisition of Hum FM, Zee becomes the only entertainment network in the region to provide an extensive media solution to any partner through television, radio & digital. Mukund Cairae, […]
Zee Entertainment has acquired UAEs Hindi-language radio station Hum 106.2 FM. This is Zees first foray into the radio business across all markets. With the acquisition of Hum FM, Zee becomes the only entertainment network in the region to provide an extensive media solution to any partner through television, radio & digital.
Mukund Cairae, CEO, Zee Network (MENA and APAC), said: This move is a diversification to our entertainment business portfolio, adding to the numero uno position we possess in Television among South Asians in the Middle East. Now we can offer media across television, radio and digital platforms. This investment also shows our commitment to the region and its business landscape.
He also said there can be a great synergy between content and mediums that will now be possible. A common initiative can now have a 360-degree audio visual exchange through platforms owned by Zee.
Radio has been an area of interest for us, for quite some time and this investment comes with extensive planning and studying the brand values, ratings and revenue generated by the station, Hum FM comes across as the best option. Hum FM has a legacy of almost two decades and with a current market share of 26% making it is the top Hindi radio station in the UAE. We are confident that it can leverage its very strong South-Asian brand and connect on to radio, further it feels that it can also leverage its people and content across TV and radio mediums.
Commenting on the move, Amit Goenka, CEO International Broadcast Business, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, said: New and strategic investments in media and related business has always been at the forefront of Zees business strategy. At Zee International, we are looking at strategic acquisitions across the globe to increase our footprint and market share in the entertainment industry. The acquisition of Hum FM in UAE is a step in that direction and we are upbeat about its prospect in the coming times.
Goenka also added: We are excited with our new business ventures. Radio comes immediately after our foray into film production and distribution, Rustom and Jazbaa have done extremely well globally and specifically in the UAE and Middle East markets.
106.2 Hum FM was previously owned and operated by Shamal Media Services, it is a frequency originating from the emirate of Umm Al Quwain and forms a part of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN). The frequency was one of the first Hindi and Urdu language frequencies to have hit the UAE air in the 1990s.
His Excellency Ali Jasim Ahmed, General Manager of Umm Al Quwain Broadcasting Network (UBN) commented: We are proud to hold the partnership with Zee Entertainment, the leading global company in the media industry with a strong presence in the UAE and across Middle East. Zee Entertainment will provide content of new concept in the world of entertainment and marketing, and will provide station media expertise of highly effective and competitive value. We will give all the facilities and support for Zee to achieve strategic station goals and we will work to support the qualitative superiority of the programs with more expertise to achieve excellence in the concept of the modern media and to meet the wishes and aspirations of the esteemed listeners, and support to communicate with them according to the latest communication media.
